Born Aug 22, 1961 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he began his professional musical career at the age of 17 playing keyboards in Raíces.
In 1981 he incorporated to one of the main bands of the Argentinean '80s rock scene: Los Abuelos de la Nada. Although the band was led by the brilliant Miguel Abuelo, Calamaro composed most of the band's hits, like "Mil Horas," "Así es el calor," "Sin gamulán" and "Costumbres Argentinas."
In 1984 he made his solo debut with Hotel Calamaro. The album was a bizarre mix of styles and musicians, and didn't gain public or press support.
In 1985 he left Los Abuelos de la Nada and registered his second album Vida Cruel. Inspite of the important musicians and guests, such as Luis Alberto Spinetta and Charly García, the album was a disappointment: both commercially and artistically. But if as a songwriter the luck was out of reach, he had an intense and successful work as a producer of bands like Los Enanitos Verdes, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs and Don Cornelio y la zona. He also worked and collaborated with many artists of different styles and genres, a constant attitude through his whole career. The third album Por Mirarte showed Calamaro in a better shape with an established band. Released in 1988 it contains some outstanding songs such as "Con los dientes apretados" and "Me olvidé de los demás," while others like "Cartas sin Marcar" and "Loco por tí" helped the album to get popular.
When Calamaro released in 1989 Nadie Sale Vivo de Aquí, Argentina was living it's worst economical crisis: few albums were released. The album title suggest it all: Nobody comes out alive from here. The LP production was paralyzed, and the few that could make it were almost ignored. That was Calamaro's case. This situation lead the singer to settle in Spain, following a road taken by many Argentinean rockers. Out there in Spain he met Ariel Rot y Javier Infante, former members of Tequila. They formed Los Rodríguez in 1991, a pop-rock band that was very popular in Spain and Latin America: Calamaro's songs began to be popular like in the early '80s: the hit maker was on the road again. Curiously, from Spain, he was conquering Argentina. While being part of the band he didn't release any new solo material, just Grabaciones Encontradas 1 y 2, a couple of CDs that contained unreleased and rare material from the '80s.
After the split of Los Rodríguez, Calamaro returned to his solo career recording Alta Suciedad in 1997, an album produced by Joe Blaney. This album brought him the commercial success that seemed to fail in his previous solo efforts, and sold 300.000 copies just in Argentina. That is certainly a huge amount for the country's small market. No doubts, that album helped him to be placed between the star legends of the national rock scene. Before that album Calamaro was considered an important character, appreciated by other musicians, but not a main one. After he broke up with his spanish girlfriend he released in 1999 the double CD Honestidad Brutal. Recorded when he was 37, it contained 37 songs of despair, love loss, drugs and regret. It was not as successful at the previous album, but showed a new Calamaro: desperate, decadent and often elegant at the same time, with a new and raw lyrical approach. El Salmon followed in spring 2001.
Calamaro's next proyect, El Cantante, was released in 2005. A delicious mixture of tango, rock n'roll and flamenco guitars (mostly played by spanish prodigy El Niño Josele).
After a break, he returned to the stages with a tour full of classics that gave birth to a live album called El Regreso on 2005, recorded with members of Bersuit Vergarabat as a backing band. This album was very well received for the charts as well as for the critics, wich lead him to different awards. One year later, on 2006, Andres published a new album from the roots of tango with the collaboration of guitarrists Niño Josele and Juanjo Dominguez. On 2007 El palacio de las flores was published, although it was recorded on 2006. The album had the collaboration and musical influence of argentine composer Lito Nebbia and was also recorded on his studio. This was the return to a classic Calamaro album with new songs and hits.
Vigilante Medio Argentino
Andrés Calamaro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
que no todo es tan bueno
atrás de la puerta de entrada de seis
están el bife de chorizo y el vino.
Están los vecinos casi siempre obedeciendo
el destino del vigilante medio argentino,
está la señora que todos adoran
y es una abuela perfecta
que fumaba en una esquina,
sin molestar a nadie,
le mandó a la policía
el pibe se comió
un garrón de dos días adentro
y la viejita nunca supo
que el puntero era su nieto
que el puntero era su nieto.
Está el portero o encargado de edificio
a veces es amigo pero, en general,
es el corre-ve-y-dile de la excepcional
¡Están en capital federal!
En provincias también el vigilante feudal
el dueño de las vidas por ejemplo en Catamarca
encana negritos y les cierra la puerta
y sus hijos, educados con toda severidad,
le hicieron la boleta a María Soledad.
Este legislador progresista que termina votando
para bien de los vecinos,
lo mismo le parece ser travesti o asesino.
Es el destino divino, tan fino, tan occidental y cristiano,
cosmopolita y parisino,
tan típico matute pero no el de don Gato
el vigilante argento además es barato
además es barato,
es el estilo tan fino
del vigilante medio argentino.
The song "Vigilante medio argentino" by Andres Calamaro tells the story of the "average Argentinian vigilante," who represents those ordinary people who hold power over others in their daily lives. The lyrics describe the attitude of this kind of person, who, although not necessarily evil or corrupt, often chooses to comply with a system of rules and regulations, even when they're unfair or unjust. The song depicts how this vigilante behaves when faced with certain situations; for instance, when confronted with a kid just smoking by the corner, he sends the police to arrest him, just because he can. In contrast, the same vigilante may adore the sweet old lady who lives down the street, unaware that her loving grandson is the kid with the cigarette.
The song further explores the idea of the vigilante as a product of a flawed social and political system. It describes how those in power control the lives of others, from the building manager who spies on the tenants, to the politicians who make promises they never intend to keep. Throughout the song, there's an impatient call to recognize and resist the existence of a system that promotes submission and oppression. In short, "Vigilante medio argentino" serves as a social commentary on the state of Argentinian society and the struggles facing ordinary people.
Line by Line Meaning
Ahora que soy grande me habré dado cuenta
Now that I am grown up, I must have realized
que no todo es tan bueno
that not everything is so good
atrás de la puerta de entrada de seis
behind the 6 PM entryway
están el bife de chorizo y el vino.
are the sirloin steak and wine.
Están los vecinos casi siempre obedeciendo
The neighbors are almost always obeying
el destino del vigilante medio argentino,
the destiny of the average Argentine watchman,
está la señora que todos adoran
there is the lady whom everyone adores
y es una abuela perfecta
and she's a perfect grandmother
pero a un pobre pendejo
but to a poor youth
que fumaba en una esquina,
who smoked on a corner
sin molestar a nadie,
without bothering anyone
le mandó a la policía
was reported to the police
el pibe se comió
The boy suffered
un garrón de dos días adentro
two days locked up,
y la viejita nunca supo
and the old lady never knew
que el puntero era su nieto
that the lookout was her own grandson
que el puntero era su nieto.
that the lookout was her own grandson.
Está el portero o encargado de edificio
There's the doorman or building manager
a veces es amigo pero, en general,
sometimes a friend but generally,
es el corre-ve-y-dile de la excepcional
he is the messenger of the exceptional
¡Están en capital federal!
They're in the capital federal!
En provincias también el vigilante feudal
In the provinces, the feudal watchman
el dueño de las vidas por ejemplo en Catamarca
the owner of lives, for example in Catamarca
encana negritos y les cierra la puerta
locks up little black kids and shuts the door on them
y sus hijos, educados con toda severidad,
and his children, educated with absolute severity,
le hicieron la boleta a María Soledad.
were responsible for the murder of María Soledad.
Este legislador progresista que termina votando
This progressive legislator who ends up voting
para bien de los vecinos,
for the good of the neighbors,
lo mismo le parece ser travesti o asesino.
thinks of both transvestites and murderers the same way.
Es el destino divino, tan fino, tan occidental y cristiano,
It's the divine destiny, so fine, so Western and Christian,
cosmopolita y parisino,
cosmopolitan and Parisian,
tan típico matute pero no el de don Gato
so typical of local hooligans, but not the one from Don Gato
el vigilante argento además es barato
the Argentine watchman is also cheap
además es barato,
also cheap,
es el estilo tan fino
it's the so-fine style
del vigilante medio argentino.
of the average Argentine watchman.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nahuel Gimenez
Ahora que soy grande, me habré dado cuenta
Que no todo es tan bueno
Atrás de la puerta de entrada de Ezeiza
Están el bife de chorizo y el vino
Están los vecinos, casi siempre obedeciendo
El destino del vigilante medio argentino
Está la señora que todos adoran, es la abuela perfecta
Pero a un pobre pendejo que fumaba en una esquina
Sin molestar a nadie
Le mandó a la policía
El pibe se comió un garrón de dos días adentro
Y la viejita nunca supo que el puntero era su nieto
Que el puntero era su nieto
Está el portero o encargado de edificio
A veces es amigo, pero en general
Es el "corre, ve y dile" de la seccional
¡Están en Capital Federal!
En provincia también el vigilante feudal
El dueño de las vidas, por ejemplo en Catamarca
Encana negritos y les cierra la puerta
Y sus hijos educados con toda severidad
Le hicieron la boleta a María Soledad
Está legislador progresista
Que termina votando para bien de los vecinos
Lo mismo le parece ser travesti o asesino
Es el destino divino, tan fino, tan occidental y cristiano
Cosmopolita y parisino
Tan típico, Matute, pero no el de don Gato
El vigilante argento además es barato, además es barato
Es el estilo tan fino
Del vigilante medio argentino
Boris Cornejo Romero
Uno de los temas más crudos de Calamaro, tiene tanta verdad social.
Saludos desde el sur Peruano Larga vida al Salmón !! 🤘🏼
Diego Simari
Qué buen recital!!!!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Inoxidable! Eterno! Grandioso!
Grande Andrelo!🥇🏆
Nahuel Gimenez
Ahora que soy grande, me habré dado cuenta
Que no todo es tan bueno
Atrás de la puerta de entrada de Ezeiza
Están el bife de chorizo y el vino
Están los vecinos, casi siempre obedeciendo
El destino del vigilante medio argentino
Está la señora que todos adoran, es la abuela perfecta
Pero a un pobre pendejo que fumaba en una esquina
Sin molestar a nadie
Le mandó a la policía
El pibe se comió un garrón de dos días adentro
Y la viejita nunca supo que el puntero era su nieto
Que el puntero era su nieto
Está el portero o encargado de edificio
A veces es amigo, pero en general
Es el "corre, ve y dile" de la seccional
¡Están en Capital Federal!
En provincia también el vigilante feudal
El dueño de las vidas, por ejemplo en Catamarca
Encana negritos y les cierra la puerta
Y sus hijos educados con toda severidad
Le hicieron la boleta a María Soledad
Está legislador progresista
Que termina votando para bien de los vecinos
Lo mismo le parece ser travesti o asesino
Es el destino divino, tan fino, tan occidental y cristiano
Cosmopolita y parisino
Tan típico, Matute, pero no el de don Gato
El vigilante argento además es barato, además es barato
Es el estilo tan fino
Del vigilante medio argentino
firraverus
Gracias capo quería leer la letra👌🤝
Cecilia Gonzalez
Genio Calamaro, toda tu música me encanta
mcuya2
Genial Calamaro!!!
Alex Silva 22
De qué año es este vídeo? Que edad tenía Andrés allí? Saludos desde Perú. El rock argentino es el mejor del mundo
emaa8o8
sos mi razon de existir andres
Adriancito Vivas
Es la canción más Argenta que existe
Nicolas sereheraldo
Está el portero o encargado de edificio
a veces es amigo pero, en general.
es el corre-ve-y-dile de la excepcional ..
¡Están en capital federal!